The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-27
PORTRAITOF Mrs. MADISON
UNVEILED IN THE ORPHAN ASY.
LUM, WASHINGTON,
BY Mrs Cleveland, in Presence OF
q Number OF Well Known
Ladies.

WARRINGTON, March 26.-The Wash
ington City Protestant Orphan Asy
lum, which was the scene on Wedn 20
day evening of the unveiling by the
youngest aud loveliest wife OF a Presi
dent known to this generation-Mrs
Cleveland-of the portrait OF the mos
popular of her predecessors in the
early history Of the National Capital,
has mad most interesting history. II
is one Of the oldest charitable institu.
tons in this country which has been
in continuous existence since its
foundation. 1t was founded in 1915
for the bsnetit OF the orphans Of those
who fell in the war Of 1912, and is a
Protestant establishment, but is o,hsr-
wise unsectaIian. 1t has from the
first teen under the ps'ronsge of ladies'
highly connected by birth as we'll as
by the fficial positions held by the
gentle nen OF their respective families.
Mrs. Madison, whose husband swas
then President of the United States.
was the first to hold the pace Of
FIRST directress." The other five la
dies who were the original founders
were: Mre. Van Ness, the noted Mar
cha Burns, whose father owned the
greater portion Of the land on which
the National Capitol stands Mrs. Tot las
Lear, whose husband was the trusted
friend and private secretary of Presi-
dent Washington; Mrs. Obadiah
Brown, wife oil prominent Baptist
preacher; Mrs. Mechlin and Mrs
Lswry, wife Of DR.. Lswry and mother
OF the late DR.. @. James Hal, who
founded in her memory tbs Memo.
rial Hall" attached to the institution
in which the portraits OF all tas
founders thus far obtained now hang.
Portraits OF all except Mrs. Lsar have
baen secured through relatives Of the
ladies thus commsmorated. The
present "first dire ctTe q" Ia the wife of
Admiral Phillips Lee, who is also the
sister OF the late Montgomery Blair,
end she has been one OF the Board for
forty yesrs, and has occupied her
present place ss presiding officer
since 1852. Mr.. w. W. Cor
coran has long been the president
OF the Board of Trustees OF this Asy-
lum. The portrait, by Stuart, of Mrs
Madison, unveiled this evening, was
painted while her husband was Prasi.
dent of tbs Unitsd States, when her
charms were a. their height, and near
the time when she gave $50 aod COW
to aid the asylum, and used, as she
tod Mira. Lee many years later, often
to have welts on her fingers-"and,"
says Mrs, Lee, "she had beautiful little
hands"-ftom cutting out clothing for
the children in the asylum. "But,"
added Mrs. Madison, in referring to
this, "it was delicious work. | never
enjoyed anything as much" Mrs.
Lee says that although Mrs. M adison
when she returned to Washington TO
live after her husbands death, never
resumed the active connection with
the orphan asylum which she had had
before President Mad son re ired from
public life and took her with him to
his Virginia home, she never lost her
interest in the institution aud always
liked Mrs Lee to make frequent re-
ports to her Of its progress, and quietly
assisted it. Mrs. Madison also in.
quired of Mrs. Lee as TO the fate OF
each child rec lived into the asylum
while she Mrs. Madson) was ite ret
directress, and Mrs. Lee was able truth
fully to tell her of one giil who
had become the wife OF a Cove NOR of
Ohio and another, of English parente,
who, being received into the establish
ment after both parents had died in
great restitution in Washington-iheI
mother falling dead, with this child in
her arms, in front of Riggs's bark
wss, several years later, sent for by |
rich relative in England and became |
the wife OF al English noblemsu. Mr..
W. w. Core iran escorted NJ Clevs,
land TO the orphan asylum this even
ing, where they were received by AID.
miral Lees wife, Judge Merrick's wife
Miss Waite, daughter of the Chief
Justice, and others OF the Board OF
Directreasss. Shortly after o'clock
Mr.. Linden Kent and Mrs. Merr ok,
led the way TO the Memorial Hall,
eiectg d by the late DR.. Hall in memo
ry of his mother, Mrs. LaWry, and
Mrs. Cleveland followed with Mr..
Corcorsn. TIE hall was decorated with
fl ags and evergreens, and the portrait
Of Mrs. Madison was covered with a
handsome United States flag OF silk.
Mr.. Kent made short address refer
ring to the history OF the asylum and
the character OF Mrs. Madison and the
aCtive part she took :ins founding
this institution. As soon as he con-
Guided, Mrs. Cleveland drew the
string that pulled the flag sside and
The handsome face and figure of
her illustrious pred Mrs. Msdi.
aop, were revealed. Mrs. Madison in.
the portrait wears a white muslin
gown, low neck and short sleeves,
with the waist almost under the arms.
The portrait shows her to have been a
very handsome woman, with dark
eyes and dark hair curling on her
forehead. Mrs. Cleveland was looking
her loveliest, in a full suit OF plain
black, including a bonnet. After I'M
yelling the portrait she went through
the establishment, escorted by Mr..
Cjrcoran and the ladies OF the Board
Of Managers. AfterWard Mr.. Cor
,oran and Mrs, Cleveland went into
The ball, where a large audiencs was
assembled to hear the orphans sing a
,antata and 90 through other extr-
,ises. Mrs. Cleveland and Mr.. Cor.
,oran remained until 10 o'clock, when
be escorted her back to the White
Hou 70. Admiral John Rodgers's
widow, Chief Justice Waite's wife,
senator and Mrs. Dolph, Miss Dolph,
Miss Odeneal and many others we'll
Known in society we're present. Miss
Waite presided at one of the tea
,ables.
AROTTT WONErN